The sense of place runs deep in the grooves of Seneca, the striking debut album by singer-songwriter Charles Wesley Godwin. This 11-song set paints a portrait of his home state of West Virginia that is instantly recognizable yet consistently surprising in its depth.
The music sounds like old-time country and folk music, reinforced with a rock backbone. The standard folk music instruments abound—acoustic guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo and fiddle can be heard throughout. But the songs make judicious use of piano, keyboards, electric guitar and horn, providing a subtle edge to many of the tracks.